An Australian makes it to King of Snow in St. Moritz 2015

St. Moritz, February 1 2015. The Australian-British Team Cartier won the Snow Polo
World Cup St. Moritz for the third time in a row. In the decisive match, Jonathan Munro
Ford and his team did not give a chance to the Italian-German-Argentine Team BMW
and secured the hat trick. Attracting more than 12’000 spectators, the tournament was
hugely successful with the public. The new organising team had a successful debut.
With a 10 : 2,5 runaway victory against Team BMW, the Australian Jonathan Munro Ford and
his Team Cartier won the St. Moritz tournament for the third time in a row. In the finals for
third place, the Swiss «Team Trois Pommes» bowed to the Irish-British «Team Badrutt’s
Palace Hotel» and had to contend themselves with the last place in the tournament. The
crowds were fascinated by both games of the last day: playing on a hard ground, all teams
put up a strong fight and displayed fascinating polo playing, which the spectators visibly
enjoyed.
The world’s only high-goal snow polo tournament lived up to its reputation: between Friday
and Sunday, some 12’000 spectators attended the six high-level snow polo matches. Even
the losers left the field with a smile on their face—showing their pleasure of having played on
the St. Moritz snow field.
The physical conditions were excellent on all three days of the tournament. The field was
impeccably prepared, despite capricious weather conditions throughout December and
January. «The local helpers, once again, did a fantastic job,» says tournament promoter
Reto Gaudenzi summing up. «They have literally been working day and night for weeks to make sure spectators, players, and polo ponies are given the best conditions. For me, they
are this weekend’s true heroes.»
«You simply have to have played polo in St. Moritz at least once in your lifetime» Piki Diaz
Alberdi had already enthused before his debut on snow. The Argentine old hand enjoyed the
tournament, even though the matches did not run very smoothly for him and his Team Trois
Pommes. «The ambience in St. Moritz is unique—I will come back for sure.»
After the game, the winning Team Cartier’s Chris Hyde, who scored five of the ten goals in
the finals, praised the high level of the tournament. «The match against Badrutt’s Palace was
one of the best snow polo games I ever played,» said the scorer of the, by now, three-times
winning team. «The field was superb—these are the best conditions I ever played on.»
In its 31st edition, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz was once again the sportive and
social crowning point of the snow polo winter season. The visitors experienced high-class
entertainment on and off the field. The stands were full on both Saturday and Sunday and
the audience loudly cheered the playing teams on.
Some 12’000 visitors enjoyed the unique concoction of hospitality, a touch of luxury, and
great sports spectacle that pervaded polo field, tents and stands, nestled in the breath-taking
beauty of the Engadine mountains. Photographers, journalists and camera teams from
around the globe mingled with the guests; 140 members of the media were accredited.
On Saturday evening, the Snow Polo Night was held in the Badrutt’s Palace hotel hosting
400 guests. An international fashion show was held, presented by the founder of Trois
Pommes, Trudie Götz; a few of the younger polo players joined the catwalk to the great
delight of the guests present. At the following gala dinner in the «Embassy» club, honours
were presented once again to the players and partners of the tournament. Afterwards, the
polo family celebrated in the «King’s Club» until the crack of dawn.

The old-cum-new organising team around Reto Gaudenzi can be pleased with their debut:
tournament, gastronomy, hospitality and evening functions ran smoothly thanks also to the
many old hands and delighting all the guests and visitors. Many voiced were heard raving
about the informal and relaxed atmosphere.
«See you next year!» exclaimed Gaudenzi at the close of the tournament: the 32nd Snow
Polo World Cup St. Moritz will be held from 29 to 31 January 2016.

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